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                        Rail Network Development
                        Environment
                        Environmental Reviews
                        Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail


            
            In This Section
        Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Overview
                Draft Environmental Impact Statement
                Final Environmental Impact Statement and Section 106 Programmatic Agreement
                What's Happened So Far?
                The NEPA Process
                Documents, Maps, & Images
      
   Related Links
          The National Environmental Policy Act
                
                The NEPA Process
    

    
    
          The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Environmental Reviews are triggered by a Federal Action:

“TCR’s proposal to build and operate a N700 Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed passenger rail system between Dallas and Houston established FRA’s Federal Action, because FRA must review and approve the safety of the system.
	Current FRA regulations do not address equipment requirements for train speeds above 150 miles per hour.
	TCR has petitioned FRA for a Rule of Particular Applicability addressing the safety issues presented by the system.”

The NEPA Process or “Umbrella” covers additional Statutes and requirements, such as:

Clean Air Act
	Historic Preservation (Section 106)
	Environmental Justice
	Noise and Vibration
	Section 4(f)NEPA Planning Benefits:

Identifies potential challenges prior to selection of actual routes or station locations.
	Properly completed NEPA reviews reduce or eliminates mitigation risk.
	The NEPA process enhances involvement of cooperating agencies and increases coordination for multimodal projects

The NEPA process is dynamic and is slightly different because ach project has unique requirements, challenges, and goals.  FRA’s responsibility is to perform a thorough and efficient environmental review according to applicable laws, guidance and regulation for projects that trigger the NEPA process.
              
      
    
          Last updated: Friday, September 4, 2020 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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